First aid on a hiking trip: what you need to know

Going hiking is, above all, about communing with nature. In that context, accidents cannot be ruled out. A team member who faints or breaks a leg, another who is injured after a fall — how do you react? The first aid kit is never far away on a hike. But you need to know how to use it correctly and apply the right techniques. Here is what you need to know about first aid in hiking.

First aid, the foundation of hiking preparation

Even before planning a hike and all the accessories to bring along. Indeed, hiking means spending hours in environments where conditions are not always ideal. In the wild, there is not always a medical service nearby, nor people with first aid knowledge. You may also find yourself in a location with no mobile signal to calling for help, or a remote location where rescue services will take a long time to reach. That is why it is essential to think about first aid in hiking before you even plan to set off. It is even better to do so as a group, because you never know which members might be at risk and which will need to provide first aid.

The importance of first aid training

First aid training is important for many reasons. To begin with, the first aid kit and all the safety accessories taken on hikes will be useless if the people carrying them do not have the knowledge to use them. It is also worth remembering that first aid in hiking, as elsewhere, is not about treating injuries but about stabilising the victim's condition. In the event of an accident, first aid helps to prevent the victim's condition from worsening. First aid is a set of automatic responses and reflexes acquired through rigorous training. The key principles of first aid are: speed, effectiveness, and method. There is a clear difference between people who have received first aid training and those who have not. Those without training tend to panic, act in a disorganised manner, and be ineffective in emergency situations. They make poor decisions, waste equipment unnecessarily, and become easily frustrated when difficulties arise.

Providing first aid in hiking: a matter of mindset

In everyday life, everyone has their own personality and habits. When an emergency occurs during a hiking trip, those habits are thrown into disarray by events. You need to act fast — very fast. First aid in hiking can only be effective if it is delivered quickly, as the victim's condition can change from one minute to the next. Learning the right reflexes and automatic responses enables swift action, since both theory and practice are covered in these training courses. When administering first aid, it is also essential to stay calm. People who have not been trained in first aid are often in shock when a serious event occurs. Some freeze and cannot move, while others panic, cry, and shout. During first aid training, instructors teach students to push through this psychological shock and remain clear-headed and effective. For example, there are practical sessions where learners get used to seeing blood and overcoming the paralysis caused by psychological shock.

Getting first aid training in France: how does it work?

In the beginning, there was a first aid training course whose outcome was the Brevet National de Secourisme. In 1991, the Attestation de Formation aux Premiers Secours (AFPS) replaced the BNS. Since 2007, the AFPS has itself been replaced by a training course called Prévention et Secours Civiques de niveau 1, or PSC1. It is a seven-hour course. Learners can spread these training hours over several days, depending on their availability. PSC1 is a training course open to anyone aged 10 and over. In certain professions, this training is mandatory — for example, in geology and other underground work, etc. Many organisations offer PSC1 training in France, including the Unions de Sapeurs-Pompiers (Firefighters' Unions), the Red Cross, the White Cross, the National Federation of Civil Protection, and many others. The cost of the training ranges from €50 to €80.